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New Notre Dame QB Stepping Into The Spotlight

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: Tommy Rees #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks for a receiver against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Tulsa defeated Notre Dame 28-27. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Tommy Rees (photo credit: Getty Images)

(WSCR) – With Notre Dame’s quarterback Dayne Crist out for the season, coach Brian Kelly is turning to freshman Tommy Rees to start against Utah Saturday.

By RICK GANO

AP Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Tommy Rees remembers stepping onto an NFL field with his dad when he was 4 or 5 years old and knowing immediately he’d found the love of his life.

Football has always been part of who he is. His father, Bill, spent years as a scout and player personnel director in the NFL and also as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the college level.

Now Tommy Rees is stepping into a spotlight all his own. At 18, as a freshman who left high school early to enroll at Notre Dame, he’ll be the starting quarterback for the Irish when they face No. 15 Utah on Saturday.